Teams’ reaction after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Round 2 of the 2024 F1 season, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix noticed three-time world champion Max Verstappen declare a ninth consecutive race victory, however Ferrari’s 18-year-old reserve driver Oliver Bearman stole the present by bringing house his SF-24 in a sensational seventh place. Here is what groups needed to say after the Jeddah F1 race.

Red Bull

Red Bull continued the place they left off in the Bahrain season-opener per week in the past. Their 2024 F1 automobile, the RB20 now seems to be the quickest automobile over one lap, and its long-run tempo lifts the Milton Keynes-based crew to a different degree in the pecking order. It was subsequently no suprise to see the crew that has been going by way of a tough interval because of the inner points clinch its second one-two end on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in the same method to how they carried out in Manama final weekend.

Max Verstappen, 1st

“It was nice to get my a hundredth podium in the present day and it was one other nice race for us this weekend. I’m very glad to win right here in Jeddah: it has been an incredible begin to the yr and we don’t know the full potential of the automobile but so now we wish to maintain the momentum going. Because of the early pit cease with the security automobile, I knew we needed to work on managing the tempo.

“Every time that I pushed I tried to extend the gap as you don’t want to be driving on the limit constantly and be taking too many risks in this circuit. It was a very long stint on the hard tyre during the race but the pace of the car was very good and I was good at managing my tyres. In the last stint, the tyres were getting cold and it was easy to lose the grip at the end, but we pushed through and I think we did everything well today. The ultimate goal is to fight for the championship so we are off to a great start.”

Sergio Perez, 2nd

“I believe the early security automobile compromised our race quite a bit sadly, I misplaced quite a bit going into site visitors with Lando and Lewis, round seven to eight seconds. We wanted to get by way of that faster than we did to problem for the win however apart from that it was a powerful drive and efficiency. I actually really feel like we’ve accomplished the two steps ahead that I used to be searching for this weekend, so we’re getting nearer to the place we should be.

“The Ferrari has the pace and I think there are tracks where they will be a lot closer to us, they probably didn’t maximise their full potential today and we did. Max is driving at a super high level and I think he is the only driver who has maximised qualifying and the race so far this season. It is great though because I have the best possible challenge in him. I must keep evolving weekend after weekend. Now, my full focus is on Melbourne and getting on top of what we have done here in Jeddah.”

Ferrari

Ferrari have had a troublesome weekend with Carlos Sainz well being points. Carlos Sainz had been feeling unwell with suspected meals poisoning, and nonetheless took half in Thursday’s free apply, however he was then identified with appendicitis.

Oliver Bearman was drafted in, however he may solely full a couple of laps in the third partice session earlier than collaborating in his very first qualifying session. The 18-year-old Briton delivered a sensational, eye-catching efficiency to qualify himself in P11 earlier than climbing up the roder to P7 in the race on a circuit which isn’t solely the second-fastest F1 observe, however considered one of the most demanding race programs on the schedule.

Charles Leclerc needed to cope with P4 in Bahrain because of brake points, however he delivered once more when it mattered, securing P2 on the grid, beating Sergio Perez in his faster Red Bull RB20. The Monegasque then clinched his first podium of the yr in the race, and demonstarted his eye-catching pace by setting the quickest lap of the race on the final lap with 43-lap-*outdated arduous tyres.

Charles Leclerc, third

“We maximised our potential in the present day and couldn’t have accomplished higher than this. We struggled a bit on the Mediums, the Hards have been difficult at first however improved all through the stint and I used to be capable of set the quickest lap on them with a little bit of assist from DRS. All in all, I felt good in the automobile.

“Ollie did an exceptional job this weekend. To get into a Formula 1 car starting from FP3, when you don’t know the car and the track is one of the most challenging of the season, it is impressive to see someone get up to speed so quickly. It was super nice to see him so happy and excited all weekend and he’s done a great job.”

Oliver Bearman, seventh

“What an incredible expertise and alternative to have my first race in Formula 1 with Scuderia Ferrari. It was bodily demanding, particularly in the finish after I had Lando (Norris) and Lewis (Hamilton) behind me on Softs. I needed to push flat out to take care of the hole and needed to keep actually centered, at all times checking my mirrors. It was a disgrace that the Safety Car got here out so early, as I used to be comfy on the Softs, however after all it was the proper name to pit then and I’m very pleased with the outcome.

“I’m confident that I maximised everything today and had great fun out there. I’ll never forget this weekend. Thank you to the whole team for their support and for giving me the chance to race.”

McLaren

McLaren gave the impression to be third quickest crew behind the dominant Red Bull and Ferrari in Jeddah. Oscar Piastri made good use of the pace of his MCL38, ending in P4.

His team-mate Lando Norris elected in opposition to pitting beneath the early security automobile interval, and led the race for a couple of laps, Although he confirmed affordable pace on his used mediums, he was unable to catch his rivals after performing his late pit cease for brand spanking new mushy tyres. As a outcome, the Bristol-born driver completed in P8.

Lando Norris, eighth

“An inexpensive race. We tried one thing with technique however, in the finish, it did not fairly repay – however it was a superb effort and I believe it was the proper choice at the time as we have been protecting all choices for the crew. There was affordable tempo in the automobile in the present day, so we possibly missed out on a few factors, however I believe we did what we may. We took slightly little bit of a raffle, typically it really works, typically it doesn’t and in the present day it didn’t, however it may have accomplished! So, I’m nonetheless glad. I believe in the present day’s tempo was fairly sturdy so there are some good indicators there. On to the subsequent one!”

Oscar Piastri, 4th

“P4! I believe that’s undoubtedly the most we may have gotten out of that race, and we executed it properly. It was a bit irritating being caught behind Lewis Hamilton for therefore lengthy, however I believe that was the most quantity of factors we may have gotten this weekend, so, I’m very glad. I can’t wait to go to Melbourne subsequent for my house race, I’m actually wanting ahead to racing at my native circuit in entrance of the Aussie followers.”

Aston Martin

Fernando Alonso continued his spectacular kind from Bahrain. He certified fourth on the grid, solely fractions away from P2. In the race, he was unable to maintain up with Red Bull and Ferrari, however was capable of maintain Mercedes driver George Russell behind whereas he additionally completed the race forward of Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris, who stayed out on observe when the security automobile was deployed.

Alonso’s team-mate Lance Stroll lacked pace in Q3 on Friday night, ending up P10 on the grid. The race then didn’t final lengthy for the Canadian as he clipped the wall at Turn 22 and crashed violently into the boundaries at the subsequent nook.

Fernando Alonso, fifth

“I’m very pleased with ending fifth in in the present day’s race. I believe ending in entrance of 1 McLaren, one Ferrari and each Mercedes is a good outcome for the crew and doubtless round the most we will obtain at the second.

“It was intense from start to finish and I had George [Russell] so close behind for most of the race. We went into the unknown a little bit with over 40 laps on the Hard set of tyres but we managed it all well and were able to make the one-stop strategy work. We will keep chasing for more performance and focus on the long term as it’s a very long season ahead.”

Lance Stroll, DNF

“A disappointing option to conclude a superb weekend. I’d been pushing actually arduous in these opening laps – the automobiles round us have been undoubtedly quicker and the tyres have been already struggling. I used to be making an attempt to construct a spot and simply clipped the wall.

“There are positives to take away, the team has scored points in both races and we feel there’s more pace to unlock in the car. I’m already looking ahead to Australia – it’s a race and a country that I really enjoy and I’m sure we can pick up the momentum again.”

Mercedes

Mercedes have had a troublesome weekend. Their 2024 F1 automobile, the W15 appeared to lack pace in the high-speed corners with each drivers complaining about bouncing. As a outcome, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton certified down in P7 and P8 respectively and completed down in P6 and P9 in the race.

Russell was caught behind Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin, however he by no means actually appeared to have the tempo to overhaul the two-time world champion. The soon-to-be Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton stayed on observe beneath the security automobile, ready for one more interruption, however it didn’t come and the Briton needed to contend himself with a ninth-placed end in Jeddah.

Lewis Hamilton, ninth

“We tried our greatest to go lengthy in the present day and have been hoping that we’d profit from a security automobile or a VSC. Unfortunately it by no means got here to us, and we ended up ending barely additional again than we began. It was price making an attempt one thing completely different although. We gave it all the pieces we had, and that was probably the finest outcome we may get in the present day given how the race performed out.

“There is potential within this car, but we still need to add a good amount of performance. The car today was pretty good in the medium and low-speed corners, but we were losing out in the high-speed. These next few races will be tricky but we will be putting in a great deal of effort to improve as much as we can. I know everyone at the factory will be getting their heads down and working as hard as they can.”

George Russell, sixth

“It was a protracted night on the market. I spent almost 40 laps inside 1.5 seconds of Fernando Alonso however couldn’t get previous. I had a slippery automobile on the straights, however I couldn’t get shut sufficient in the high-speed to present him any actual stress. P6 was probably a good end in the finish and it’s clear that we haven’t discovered the candy spot with this automobile simply but.

“Overall though, we need to find a bit more performance. We’ve seen potential and pace in the car, but we haven’t shown it when it’s mattered. We need to understand why that is and improve ahead of Melbourne. As we’ve seen, the pecking order behind the Red Bulls is very close so we need to get on top of it. There’s lots of work to do but I believe in the team.”

Haas

Nico Hulkenberg, tenth

“One point is worth a lot these days. It felt like a very clean race, and a really good race by the team strategy-wise. We split the cars during the Safety Car which was discussed before the race and that worked out well. At the restart when the faster cars disappeared, I managed to get free air, good pace, and a good rhythm. I think that was key, but also the teamwork from Kevin today to slow down the others for me to be able to make a pit window. It was perfect teamwork, and I’ll return the favour to him later in the season.”

Kevin Magnussen, twelfth

“I showed good pace but unfortunately I got two penalties, so that’s not a great day for me of course, but I think I made up for it with the effort in keeping everyone behind to create a gap for Nico to pit. He scored a point so that’s super important and right now, I’m not fighting for a championship, so the real fight is in the Constructors’ Championship, and I’m happy that we scored a point today. It’s huge for the team, we earned it today, and it’s positive that we have the pace – for a second race in a row we’ve shown that we have good pace.”

Williams

Alex Albon, eleventh

“It’s frustrating to not be fighting for points today, finishing just outside in P11. Haas did a great job with strategy using Kevin to hold up the group, which was very smart. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the speed and we were carrying front wing damage as well, so we struggled to progress through the field. We had a better race car than we showed today, so now the focus is on improving for Australia.”

Logan Sargeant, 14th

“It was a decent race with a good 35 laps; however, we didn’t quite have the pace needed for the last 15 laps. I was starting to explore the potential towards the end of the race, but it was a bit too late. If I’d have realised the potential earlier, we could have picked more off, but I’ll look through it and see what I can do better. With the pace improving throughout the race, I’m confident we can unlock more potential for Australia.”

Alpine

Alpine confirmed an improved pace in Jeddah in comparison with Bahrain, however they have been nonetheless the slowest in qualifying.

Pierre Gasly encountered a gearbox-related concern on the warm-up lap which pressured him to retire from the motion. His team-mate Esteban Ocon was concerned in a race-long battle with Haas racer Kevin Magnussen, the two Williams and two RB drivers, however he was a protracted shot away from scoring any factors.

Esteban Ocon, thirteenth

“Realistically, that’s all we may obtain in the race in the present day. For us, we took it as one other alternative to study extra about the automobile. There was some chaos at the begin, so we did properly to remain clear and capitalise on some positions. There have been some moments of shut wheel to wheel racing, which was good at instances.

“We are simply not fast sufficient to attain factors and that’s the place we’re at this second in time. We will maintain our heads excessive and maintain working to seek out efficiency. I’m in Enstone this week and I’m wanting ahead to seeing everyone there and collectively working arduous to enhance our present state of affairs. Australia is our subsequent alternative and I look ahead to it.”

Pierre Gasly, DNF

“Obviously, it’s a disappointing day for us in Jeddah. We had a gearbox concern on the formation lap the place we misplaced sixth gear after which misplaced synchronisation of all the different gears so we needed to retire the automobile. We have to research why this occurred because it price us precious observe time in the present day.

“It’s disappointing for the entire crew as everyone seems to be working actually arduous, bringing good vitality all weekend, however issues simply should not going our means. It’s not straightforward at the second, however we have to maintain our heads excessive and maintain working to seek out the efficiency that we’re missing. We’ll stick collectively and go to Australia able to go once more.”

RB

The Visa Cash App outfit had one other tough day with Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo ending exterior the high ten. The Japanese racer had a promising qualifying session, securing P9 for the Jeddah F1 race. However, the grand prix didn’t pan out the means he hoped for as he tumbled down the order.

His race team-mate Ricciardo began from nearly the again finish of the discipline. He had a sluggish pit cease which meant that he rejoined the observe in final place throughout the security automobile interruption. Although the eight-time grand prix winner managed to claw again to his direct rivals, he was unable to enhance his place considerably, and he had a spin at Turn 1 in the closing levels of the race.

Daniel Ricciardo, sixteenth

“It was a troublesome race and total, a troublesome weekend, which may be very irritating. During the Safety Car time, when nearly everybody pitted, we had a sluggish pit cease and some laps from the finish, I made a mistake and hit an excessive amount of kerb in Turn 1, which triggered a spin. I’m staying optimistic although, as I do know we’ve some optimistic indicators and we simply want to shine our bundle up.

“We have per week off now, and there might be a giant push from everybody to get it proper and ensure we’ve a superb bundle for the subsequent race. I do know the crew desires it as badly as I do. I’m excited to return racing in Melbourne, so let’s prepare for it.”

Yuki Tsunoda, fifteenth

“It was a difficult race today. I made some mistakes and let some cars behind me pass when I was trying to overtake the car in front, and that’s my fault. We struggled with our pace and grip today, so it was difficult to drive. On the positive side, we had a strong qualifying, and we’ll look into our race pace and figure out why we struggled as much as we did. There are things I can improve on today, so we’ll look through them and apply the learnings for the future.”

Kick Sauber

The Kick Sauber crew had a tough weekend in Jeddah with their drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu ending down in seventeenth and 18th respectively.

The Finn complained about the lack of race pace and excessive tyre degradtion, claiming that the crew’s alternative of a soft-hard technique was a too formidable method. After failing to set a single timed lap in qualifying, Zhou elected to increase his first stint by staying out beneath the security automobile interruption. He accomplished a late pit cease, however it turned out to be a disastrous tyre service together with his crew unable to mount the new tyres in time.

Valtteri Bottas, seventeenth

“It has undoubtedly been a troublesome race, and a troublesome weekend total, the place we didn’t have the tempo we have been aiming to unlock from our automobile. We went for an aggressive technique with Soft-Hard, however we figured fairly rapidly we have been struggling quite a bit on the arduous compound, by no means correctly getting it to work.

“We switched for Softs once more in the direction of the finish, hoping it might make a distinction – it did – however sadly we had misplaced an excessive amount of time in comparison with our opponents, and couldn’t make a lot of an enchancment.

“With per week break earlier than Australia, we’ll have the time to regroup as a crew and analyse what hasn’t labored out to date for us. This is simply the second race out of twenty-four, however it’ll be vital to handle our points and work arduous with the intention to promptly clear up them. As a optimistic, we’ve some updates in the pipeline, which hopefully will permit us to make a step ahead and get again into the struggle for factors.”

Zhou Guanyu, 18th

“This was undoubtedly not my weekend. The race was tough in the starting, however we managed to go fairly lengthy on the medium compound tyres earlier than pitting for brand spanking new softs. We would have comfortably completed in P11, however sadly, the pit-stop compromised my race. We encountered one other concern with a cross-threaded nut, one thing that we, as a crew, are investigating.

“We want to know how this occurred and enhance to ensure it doesn’t happen once more. The optimistic takeaway from this weekend is that my tempo was wanting fairly good, and we’re undoubtedly up there preventing in the midfield, near the factors.“